Northeast Consulting Group, Inc. is a privately owned marketing company. We specialize in client relations and brand building. Our job is to help the companies that we work with grow and expand throughout their target markets. For our people, we are committed to giving them the tools and the resources they would need to find success within our company and be able to advance from within. So, a big focus for us is training our people on having an entrepreneur mindset. This helps people be self-motivated, goal oriented, and find their passion to reach their goals. But, sometimes the entrepreneurial mindset can drain someone. So, when we found this article we just had to share it with our people!

Lack of Boundaries
Most people aren’t great at establishing strong boundaries around their time. It’s important when you schedule time to do something that you ACTUALLY DO IT! You have to learn to resist answering the phone, checking social media, or agreeing to have coffee when a friend stops by. It can be difficult, but it’s worthwhile.

Distractions & Interruptions
Distractions happen for one of two main reasons: Either we fail to limit our exposure to them or they are an indication that we need a break. You need to learn to notice the difference, enforce those boundaries, and allow time to rest and rejuvenate when necessary.

Doing It All Yourself
We have many responsibilities and multiple roles in life and work. One of the biggest drains on productivity is that we take on more than we’re capable of accomplishing. It can be hard to relinquish control, but doing so gives us the opportunity to work on what matters most while allowing someone else to handle the rest. In addition to delegating, what sorts of things can you automate or create a streamlined process to handle? Set yourself up for success by creating and sticking to your boundaries, minimizing distractions, and getting over the idea that you’re the only one that can do what must be done. If you only apply these three principles without adding in anything else, you’ll see an increase in your productivity.

But, what if you want more?

10 Productivity Tips For the Overwhelmed Entrepreneur!

1. Chunk It
How long can you stay focused on a task or project? Whether it’s twenty minutes or two hours, break your day into chunks of time and schedule tasks that can be completed in those chunks. Take short breaks between each chunk.

2. Map It
Project mapping is a great time management technique in which you plug in tasks from a project into the available time slots on your calendar, just as if you were scheduling an appointment with a client. We tend to get overwhelmed when we have a massive project and a looming deadline. By mapping the project tasks out on a calendar, we set aside specific time to work on them so that they get done.

3. Calculate It
The Pareto principle, or the “80/20” rule says that 20% of whatever you are talking about is vital and 80% is trivial. Apply this to your task list: 20% of what you do will yield 80% of your progress. Out of all the tasks that must get done, can you pick out the 20% that will move you closer to your goals.

4. Quarter It
On a sheet of paper, create a to-do list. Make this list as inclusive as possible Divide a separate sheet of paper into four quadrants. In Quadrant 1: write down all the tasks from your list that make you money. In Quadrant 2: write down the tasks on your list that make it possible for you to make money, i.e. marketing activities. In Quadrant 3: write tasks that don’t make money but must be done. In Quadrant 4: list all of the activities that are tasks that can be delegated to someone else or deleted from your to-do list all together. Challenge yourself to put at least 5 items in Quadrants 1 and 4. Spend your time focusing on doing the tasks in Quadrants 1 and 2 as much as possible.

5. Time It
You are likely more productive at certain times of the day than others. Schedule your hardest and most important tasks during your most efficient times of day and save your easier/less important activities for your low-energy periods.

6. Question It
If you notice that certain tasks on your list never seem to get done, it’s time to question whether it’s worth doing at all. Can you move these to Quadrant 4?

7. Maximize It
Maximize your time by grouping together tasks that are similar. For instance, if yo have client meetings, plan to run errands while you’re out. Then schedule multiple tasks you can do on your computer for another part of the day.

8. Plan It
Planning impacts your productivity in so many ways. Set yourself up for success by taking time to prepare for the next day. Study the time you have between appointments and deadlines and make a plan the night before for the tasks you will accomplish.

9. Break It
As counterintuitive as it may seem, taking a break is actually a very effective way to be more productive. Take a shower, go for a walk, get lost on instagram.. you’ll be refreshed when you return to work.

10. Focus It
When you’re overwhelmed with to-dos and need to get back on track, sometimes it helps to focus all your energy on the tasks you have to complete. This means letting go of somethings that you usually do when it’s “life as usual.” Whether its extra housework, TV, or a weekly night out, evaluate whether sacrificing one of those activities might be worth while for you to focus all of your energy and be more productive.

No matter how fast you knock things off your list, use your time on the things that matter most and will help you feel the most productive.

To learn more about the career opportunities within Northeast Consulting Group, Inc. please visit our website: www.ncg-corp.com